I like this university. That is such a strange thing for me to say, I almost can't believe I've said it. But I've said it to several people. So it must be true.
PBL is good, I think we are ironing out the wrinkles. Sometimes I do think that people are not using the best sources (Wikipedia is fine to satisfy your curiosity, but please don't quote it as a reference), but at least its not too important yet. And my own work is hardly the most astoundingly brilliant stuff.
IPL is a bit more tricky, namely because we're not really sure what the hell we're actually meant to be doing; its all a bit vague. Could somebody give us a big shove in the right direction? Please? We don't quite look like the perfect MDT below.....
Primary care is brilliant, I love it! Its so amazingly different to be sitting on the other side of the door,actually being in the consults. I'm surprised at how happy patients seem to be for medical students to be in the room. I don't think I would like it, but maybe I'm just sensitive. And I HATE going to the doctor, so it kinda figures. They (patients) just completely ignore us and seem totally uninhibited by our presence; thank you patients.
The other thing we do is interview patients in pairs. As we obviously don't have any clinical skills, our "examinations" go as far as talking to them. Despite being told in consultation skills that if we just sat back and listened that the patients would tell us everything, I didn't quite believe it. Well, its true. You can't actually get a question in with some of them! Which is fantastic, because awkward silences suck, and they really presume we know what we're doing, which we really, really don't.
Its interesting to see how other students talk to patients. Some of them seem quite insensitive, and not able to read the situation very well. I was a little embarrassed when my colleague asked a quite blunt question about socio-economic status that didn't really seem relevant or necessary. But I guess we're all learning, and I'm no saint myself. How do you teach yourself to eh stop um going eh.....um.... all the time? In my opinion, people who don't do it are amazing. Tips please!
Sometimes I'm surprised about the things that med students don't know. (Please don't think I'm being arrogant) One thing that shocked (and kinda horrified me to tell you the truth) was that during a lecture on cultural and ethnic differences and the issues that raises with pregnant women was that only about 5 people in a room of 30 knew what Female Genital Mutilation/Female Circumcision was. I would have thought that it would be something that medical students are aware of, especially because its the kind of "hot topic" that people read up on for interviews.
But I've noticed a lot of people don't seem to have a very culturally/ethnically broad "world perspective" of medicine and patients; maybe they think it doesn't matter if they want to practise solely in Britain's NHS (considering the amount of immigrants in the UK though this does seem a little short-sighted). And indeed, all our training is about preparing us to work in the NHS. Sometimes I find this annoying because I have noticed quite a few differences even between England and Ireland, so outside of Western Europe the odds are there are going to be even more. Do we have to be trained only to become "NHS Doctors"? Can't we be trained to be Doctors who are competent at working in the NHS? And yes, I know that it is the British taxpayer who is providing my medical education so maybe I should just shut up and be thankful, but all the same......
Haven't had any "special" cases yet, but at this young and naive stage of my life every patient is fascinating. I hope I won't lose that interest.
The doctors we are working with are very very good at what they do. I don't mean their diagnoses/treatment, because I can't really tell yet (but judging by the high standards they have in everything else, it can't be too bad), but they are so good at listening to what the patient is actually telling them and giving clear advice and good reassurance. I have never been a patient of doctors that acted like this. I very much want to be like them, and am so thankful for the opportunity to get to work with them.
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...Er, just joking.
Just wanted to say - this post reminds me so much of my own first few medical school years!
It is indeed disappointing to know that some people just seem to have swotted up something for their interview but lack that overall 'world perspective' (nice phrase) that you have written about. It's not the best start to what is such a diverse career.
I was also surprised at how some students could just sit there and ask really sensitive questions in a really blunt fashion without any consideration for the patient's feelings... I would cite an example, but it would be too long and give away too much.
Although I have to say, I've been turned down by a fair few patients and asked to leave consultations before, because people were uncomfortable with medical students being in the same room (understandable, I suppose.)
Oh, and lastly, thanks for the comment at my blog - it's great encouragement for me to know that people actually want to read this new bestseller (yeah, right!)
I'm still formulating the plot in my notes - new characters are popping out from nowhere and the plot is fast growing out of control.
I'll begin writing it on the first of November (competition guidelines, I'm afraid!) but before then I'll be sure to drop you the url!
I promise!
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